Charlottesville, VA — Monmouth held a one goal advantage heading into halftime Sunday against No. 19 University of Virginia.
After giving up the game's first goal,
Éabha Curran changed the momentum with a hustle play on the press, getting her stick on a pass in the backfield to tie the score early in the second quarter. The momentum-shift was aided on a reversal on a goal by the Cavaliers three minutes later, and in turn, the Hawks pounced on the opportunity as
Lilly Ricks netted the go-ahead score in the 28th minute.
However, the 2-1 halftime lead wasn't enough, as Virginia continued putting pressure in the circle and came away with two-straight goals that proved the difference in the eventual, 4-3 home win.
Monmouth suffered just its fourth loss of the season, third in four games, and dropped to 9-4 overall, while the Cavaliers improved to 8-5.
"I thought we played one of our better games. I'm really proud of the work on and off the ball today," said Hawks coach
Carli Figlio. "We set a new standard of work rate, and it showed in not only attack, but also in our defense. This is a great platform for us to move forward in our last few regular season games. I'm very proud of how we showed up."
Charlie Bowman finished with a season-high 12 saves in the loss, as Virginia totaled 24 shots in the game, including 16 on goal, by far the most all season against the Hawks.
The hosts got on the board first, stemming from a corner four minutes into the game. Bowman made the initial stop off the insert, but Virgina's Rylee Dennis found the rebound and sent a shot toward cage that was tipped in front post by Isabella Moore to give the Cavaliers the 1-0 lead.
Gallery: (10-18-2026) Field Hockey at No. 19 Virginia 10/18/26
Virginia kept the Hawks on their heels to start the second quarter, as they recorded five shots within the first minute of the period. Bowman made a nice foot save on a shot by Dennis with freshman back
Olivia Oliver clearing to hold the 1-0 result for Monmouth. Curran then knotted the score five minutes later as the Cavaliers held possession. A lackadaisical pass back was intercepted by Curran who reached to get her stick on the ball for the interception and the junior showed off her speed from there. With momentum downhill, she beat her last defender and clinically finished the 1-v-1 opportunity to register her fifth of the year.
Virginia narrowly re-took the lead to end the half after earning a corner with three minutes remaining in the second. However, the goal was reviewed and taken back to hold the 1-1 stalemate and the Hawks immediately capitalized following the stoppage.
Alicia Vanderlyde was the catalyst, finding space on the left side to move the ball down into the circle, before centering a pass to
Keely Bowers. Bowers then laid off a pass to
Lilly Ricks who showed her crafty stick skills, backhanding a shot that chipped over Cavaliers goalie Nilou Lempers (two saves) for the score.
The game was flipped in the second half, as Virginia capitalized immediately. It earned a corner two minutes into the third period and although Bowman made the initial stop, Marisa Fahning who inserted on the play snuck back post to put away the rebound to tie the game at 2-2. The Cavaliers scored again five minutes later, sending a dangerous ball inside the circle where Riley Savage was waiting, getting behind the defense and beating Bowman to the ball to sneak her shot into the net to push the score, 3-2.
The hosts put away another to give themselves a pivotal two-goal advantage with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Monmouth finally answered, as Vanderlyde generated a corner with 15 seconds left. The Hawks broke through, as
Ava Zerfass knocked in her first of the season off an assist from Vanderlyde, but with five seconds left, Virginia lifted the ball into the corner and ran out the remaining time to solidify the 4-3 outcome.
The Cavaliers out-shot the Hawks, 24-11, including 16-5 in shots on goal with both teams totaling six penalty corners apiece.
Anna Moors and Curran had a team-leading four and three shots, respectively.
Monmouth returns home for one final game on So Sweet A Cat Field Friday, hosting CAA opposition Fairfield at 4 p.m.
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